Joseph's story

Good evening friends,
A huge thanks to everyone who came out to make this year's Living Nativity a success. All the costumes looked great, the characters were wonderful, the hospitality was warm and the animals were themselves. What a blessing to share the Christmas story with the neighborhood in such a fun way. I hope to see many of you tomorrow evening at our Christmas Eve service at 7pm. It's a beautiful service with lots of music and a great story. Come and bring a friend.

Today's reading is the story of Joseph's struggle when he found out his fiancee, Mary, was pregnant. Joseph's story doesn't get a ton of attention, but it is a story of strong faith, love and courage.

God bless,
Sam


Matthew 1:18-25
¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.

²⁰But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²²All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ²³“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” ²⁴When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, ²⁵but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.